Fastener member and fastener installation



'Aug 30, 1938. H. J. MURPHY FAST ENER MEMBER AND FASTENER INSTALLATION Filed July 8, 1957 2 sheetsnem 1 ln'venion' Lbwamd (-1 Nu Aug. 30, 1938. H. .1. MURPHY 2,123,730

FASTENER MEMBER AND FASTENER INSTALLATION Filed July 8, 193'! 2 She'ets-Sheet 2 Fig" Q21 -Ii9.20

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Patented Aug.30, 1938 I 2,128,730 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FASTENER MEMBER AND FAS TENER, INSTALLATION Howard J. Murphy, Greenwood, Mesa, assignor to United-Carr Fastener Corporatlom' Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application July. 8, 1937, Serial No. 152,581

12 Qlaims. (Cl. 287-53) My invention relates to knob and the like fastime with a fourth form of fastener member and tening installations and fastener members for ashaft shown in full; the same. v g Fig. 22 is a section taken along the line 22=-22 Referenceis hereby. made to my divisional 1119- f plications- Serial Nos. 191.234 and-191,235, filedi 2 i a end vie f y fourth form of February "18, 1938. fastener member; and Referring to the. drawings, in which I have Fi 2 is a p v w of he f t n r m r illustrated preferred forms of my invention: h wn n Fi 2 Figure 1 is an edge view f a kn b b r An object of my invention is the provision of 1 before attachment of my first form of fastener simple and e p v te members d p member thereto; a ed for quick and easy assembly with an operat- Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the knob membe I s member which m y be a y article of menushown in Fig. 1; facture, such as a rotatable knob, so as to en- Fig. 3 is a view of the knob emb r imila able a shaft to be detachably secured to an artito thatof Fig. 2 with my first form of faste r ole. A principal feature of my invention is em- 15 member'assembled therewith; bodied in the relative constructions of the article Fig. 4 is a section t ken along t line 4. 4 of of manufacture and the fastener members of the Fig. 3; v respective installations enabling the fastener Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line b-S of members to be fixedly secured to the articles of Fig. 3 with a shaft shown i elevatio manufacture in proper position for efilcient op- 20 Fig. 6 is a plan view of my first form 01 fasoration in a manner requiring a minimum tener member per se; amount of time and labor. Fig. '7 is an edge view of the fastener member For purposes of illustration I have chosen to shown in Fig. 6; combine my fastener members with knob mem- Fig. 8 is an end view of my first form of fa bers such as may be used on radio dial panels 25 tener member per se; or automobile instrument panels, but it'is under- .Fig. 9 is a plan view of my second f rm of stood that I do not wish to limit the use of my fastener member; fastener members to articles of manufacture of Fig. 10 is a side view of the fastener member the type illustrated and described because m shown in Fig. 9; fastener members are equally adaptable to use 30 Fig. 11 is an end iew of th fastener member with other articles of manufacture as will be unshown in Figs. 9 and 10; derstood from inspection of the drawings and the member thereto;-

Fig. 12 is a bottom view of a knob member description hereinafter set forth. before attachment of my third form of fastener Referring to the installation 'W in Figs- I v 1-5, the article of manufacture with which I have 35 Fig. 13 is a bottom view i il t t t of Fig chosen to illustrate my invention is in the form 12 showing my third form of fastener member of a knob member I. My first form of fastener sembled with th kn b member; member 2 is secured in a recess to one end of Fi 14 is a section taken on the the knob and provides eflicient means for securof 13 and showing a shaft secured to the mg a Shaft member 3 (Fig'fi) to the knob h 40 by means my fastener member t ftfi bti ifiatfiiitfiiifitfiiiiiig 223 an a 0 Fig. 15 is a section taken along the line la-IS of apparatus with finger operative knob means of Fig. 14; :3 Fig. 16 is a top view of my third form of fas- Z 2: $:gg ;g position on tener member p se; 7 1 The knob I is preferably formed of a plastic 17 end vlew 0f the fastener member substance such as Bakelite, tenlte or the like Shown in and has an opening in the form of a bore 4 in I Fig. 18 is a side view of the fastener members the center of n end I thereof. which is adapted shown m FigS. 16 and 1 1 t receive and support an end of the shaft 3 so 50 Fig. 19 is a side view of a slightly modified form as to maintain the shaft 3 in proper position to of my third form of fastener member; b gripped by the fastener member, as will be Fig. 20 is an end view of the fastener member hereinafter described. The bore 4 has a fiat side shown in Fig. 9; 5 (Fig. 2) in my preferred form, cooperating with Fig. 21 is a section through a knob installaa flat side 6 of the shaft 3 whereby the end of 55 I the shaft 3 may be fitted more snugly within the v the portion ii. The inclined portion I! has an aperture l3 for receiving an end of the shaft 3 bore so as to reduce to a minimum the play between the parts. As it may not be practical to provide an irregular-shaped bore in an article other than one of such material that said bore may be formed inexpensively by a molding process, I do not wish to be limited by the particular cross-sectional shape of the bore illustrated and of the installation may be carried out if the bore in the body of .the article is of a circular shape.

A pair of openings I (Figs. 2 and 4) are formed in the end I of the knob l in spaced relation to the bore 4 with each of the openings 1 spaced one from another. The openings I are adapted to receive attaching portions of the fastener member 2 for securing the fastener to the knob. As a means for concealing my fastener member so as to improve the appearance of the knob, I have preferably provided a recess surrounded by a peripheral flange 8 extending from the end I axially of the knob member. The flange 8 has an opening 9 in one side thereof (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) in my preferred form, to permit entrance of a tool through the flange for engagement with a releasing portion of my fastener member, as will be described. An opening l8 (Fig. 5) is prferably formed in the end of the knob near the opening 9 in the flange 8 for receiving a free end of the releasing portion.

My first form of fastener member, shown most clearly in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings, is formed of one piece of sheet metal material. The fastener member has a spring plate portion H of substantially rectangular shapecomprising a substantially straight portion ll and an inclined portion l2, formed as a continuation of and is so constructed that in expanded position it may grip the shaft by canting action. For proper operation of my fastening device the area of the aperture 13 should be no greater than is necessary for allowing an end of the rod to pass therethrough, as will be hereinafter more fully described. It will be noticed that the aperture i3 has a flat side It (Figs. 3 and 6) which cooperates with the flat side 6 of the shaft 3 for preventing relative rotation of the parts when the same are in fastened'relation. As a means for attaching my fastener member to the knob I have provided attaching portions inthe form of prongs l5 integral with an end of the plate II and extending in angular relation to the same. Each of the prongs IS, in my preferred form, has teeth IS on opposed edges presenting shoulders facing in the direction of the base II to aflix the fastener member more securely to the knob. The distance between the outermost free.

ends of the teeth on opposed edges of the prongs I5 is preferably slightly greater than the diameter of the openings I so that the teeth of the prongs may engage the material of the body of the knob adjacent the respective openings 1 after the prongs have been inserted therein. At the opposite end of the plate I I from that with which the prongs l5 are integral I have provided, an ear-like releasing portion II. The releasing portion I! extends out of the normal plane of the material of a knob member.

the opening I shown in Fig. 5. I

In assembling the parts of my installation together I first move the fastener member 2 toward the knob so that the free ends of the prongs I enter open ends of the openings I. Then pressure is exerted upon the fastener so as to force the prongs into the openings until the portion H of the plate ll abuts material of the end wall I of the knob member (Fig. 5). When the prongs 15 are fully inserted within the opening I, the teeth l5 engage material of the knob I adjacent the respective openings 1 (Fig. 4) preventing'ready removal of the prongs therefrom. When the fastener member 2 is in attached position, as shown in Fig. 5, the opening l3 will in the end It, as most clearly be slightly out of alignment with the opening of the bore 4.

Attachment of the shaft 3 to the knob through means of my first form of fastener member is illustrative of the general way by which shafts may be connected to knobs by other forms of fastener members which fall within the scope of my present invention and is carried out in a relatively easy manner through extending an end of the shaft 3 through they aperture IQ of the inclined plate portion I2 into the bore 4. During passage of an end of the shaft 3 through the aperture i3; the pressure of the shaft causes the inclined plate portion I! to move toward the end i whereby the aperture [3 is brought into alignment with the opening of the bore 4 permitting passage of the shaft through the aperture I 3 until the outermost end of the shaft abuts material of the knob at the closed end of the bore 4. When pressure on the shaft 3 for moving it through the inclined plate portion I2 is released, the natural resiliency of the plate ll causes the inclined portion H to expand whereby .material of the inclined portion adjacent the the closed end of the opening l8. Then the plate portion I2 is forced by the tool toward the end I of the knob thereby moving the aperture l3 of the inclined portion l2 into substantial alignment with the open end of the bore 4 so that the shaft may be readily separated from the knob. Thus the shaft may be detached from the fastener member even though the free edge of the flange 8 hes adjacent a surface of a panel or the like part.

In Figs. 9 through 11 I have shown a second form of fastener member which is similar to my first form but distinguishable therefrom in certain respects. My second form of fastener member has a plate portion l9 providing an aperture therein for receiving a shaft member. At one end of the plate I! I have provided attaching portions in the form of prongs 2l2l which are adapted to be extended into openings in the Opposed edges of the prongs 2l-2l are'provided with teeth 22 adapted to engage material of the member ad- Jacent the prong-receiving openings so as to secure the fastener member to the knob in a manner similar to that by which my first form of fastener member is secured to a knob. The

plate 18, in my second form of fastener memher, is tipped so as to be in inclined relation my first form of fastener member, I have provided an ear-like element 23 extending. from an opposite end 'of the plate l3 from that with which the prongs 2|--2| are integral and lying in subclearly shown in Fig. 10. The releasing portion stantially the plane of the plate l9, as most 23'may be pressed either by a finger of the operator or a suitable tool in the direction of the article to which my second form of.fastener is attached so as to align the aperture 20 with the shaft-receiving opening of the article for enabling the shaft to be released from the fastener.

Referring to Figs. 12 through 15 of the drawings, I have shown a third form of fastener member secured to one end of an article of manufacture such as the knob member 24. My preferred form of knob member 24 has a body portion providing anend face 25 at one end. An opening 26 (Fig. 12) in the form of a bore extends from the end face 25 into the body portion of the knob member in right-angular relation to'the plane of the end face. The opening 26 has, in my preferred form, a cross-sectional shape substantially as shown in Fig. 12, aportion 21 of the opening being formed to snugly embrace an end of the.

' shaft 3. Another portion 28 of the opening is *ripheral flange portion 29 may extend beyond the end face 25 of the knob member for concealing the fastener member when it is in permanent attachment with the knob. The flange 23 has an opening 30 in a side thereof, in my preferred form, to permit entrance of a tool through the flange for engagement with a releasing portion of the fastener member substantially in the manner described in connection with the installation illustrated in Figs. 1-5.

My third form of fastener member, which is clearly illustrated in Figs. 16-18 of the drawings,

is formed of one piece of sheet metal material. The fastener member has a spring plate portion 3| and a loop portion 32 integral with one end of the plate portion. The material of the loop portion 32 extends out of the plane of the plate portion on one side thereof and then has a return bend portion 32 substantially engaging the other side of the plate portion, as most clearly shown. in Fig. 18. At the free end of the portion 32 .I have provided an attaching portion in the form of a prong 33 adapted to enter the prongreceiving opening 28 of the opening 26 forv the purpose of securing the fastener member to'the knob. 'The attaching prong 33 has teeth 34 on opposed edges presenting upwardly facing shoulders (Fig. 17) which are adapted to engage material of the body portion of the knob member adjacent the opening 28 to prevent withdrawal of the prong means. It will be noticed that the .plate portion 3| is disposed at such an angle I ture 33 therein for receiving an end'of the shaft 3 whereby the plate may grip the shaft by aferred form, has a fiat side substantially opposite the line of junction of the rod-receiving opening '21 and the prong-receiving opening 28 and is adapted to cooperate with a flat side 6 of the shaft 3 for preventing relative rotation of the parts after assembly-of the same. At the opposite end of the plate 3| from that having the loop 32 I have provided an ear-like releasing portion 31 which curves out of the plane of the plate 3| on the same side of the plate as the prong 33. As a result of the curved construction of the releasing portion 31, a camming surface 38 (Fig. 14) is provided so as to cause contraction of the plate 3| when the camming surface is engaged by a suitable tool extended through the opening 30 of the peripheral'flange 29.. It will be noticed that the releasingportion 31 of my third form of fastener member does not extend'into an open-,

ing in the body of the knob in the manner of the.

i the return bend portion 32 of the loop 32 engages the end face 25 of the knob. When the prong 33 is inflnal position within the prong receiving opening 28, the teeth 34 engage material of the knob member adjacent the opening toprevent Withdrawal of the prong. When my third form of fastener member is securedto the knob, the plate portion 3| will be in inclined relation to the face 25 with the opening 35 of the plate portion slightly out of alignment with the opening 21 in the end face'25. Extension of the shaft 3 through the opening 36 causes the plate 3| to contract whereby the opening36 aligns with the opening 21 of the knob so as to permit the free end of the shaft to extend through the inclined plate into the bore of the knob member. After pressure upon the shaft, for moving it into the bore of the knob, has been re1eased,'the plate 3| expands so that the material adjacent'the aperture 33 grips the shaft by a canting action. The shaft 3 is now securely attached to the knob member. is extended through the opening 33 ofthe flange 29 into engagement with the camming surface 38 thereby causing the plate3| to contract in the direction of the end face 25 whereby the opening 36 aligns with the opening 27 to permit the shaft to be withdrawn from the fastener.

' In Figs. 19 and 20 I have shown a fastener member having a slightly modified construction overrny third. form.

In my modified form the prong 33 has an inwardly-extending'flange por-- tion 39. As a result of the flange portion 39, the

prong 33 may be forced into final position within the opening 28 through means of a suitable tool .(not shown) which, in operating position prior to securing the fastener to the knob, extends through the aperture 36 of the plate 3| and has its free end abutting the flange 33. It is understood that although the flange 39 may be an aid for securing the fastener member to the knob, I

do not wish to be limited by this construction because the fastener member could be secured to a knob through any other suitable means. It will also be noticed that in the fastener illustrated in Figs. 19 and 20 the material of the'loop portion 32 does not extend out of the plane of the inclined plate portion 3| on the side opposite to thaton which the prong 331s, disposed.

Referring to Figs. 21 and 22 of the drawings, I have shown a fourth form of fastener member secured to a knob member and having spring plate means gripping a shaft 3 for attaching the shaft to the knob. The knob member 40, which I have chosen for purposes of illustrating my invention, has a body portion with an end face 4| at one end thereof (Fig. 21). A peripheral flange 42 may extend from the end face 4| so as to aid in concealing the fastenermember when the fastener is secured to the knob. The end face 4| has an opening 43 therein which has a flatside 44 (Fig. 22) for a purpose which will be described. The opening 43 preferably extends in right-angular relation to the end face 4| andis adapted to receive an attaching portion of the fastener member for securing the fastener to the knob and a shaft-supporting bearing adapted to snugly embrace 'a portion of the peripheral surface ofthe shaft 3.

My fourth form of fastener member, which is clearly illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24 of the draw-.

ings, is preferably formed of one piece of sheet metal material. The fastener member has an inclined spring plate portion 45 which is provided with a flat sided aperture 46 for receiving an end'of the shaft 3 whereby the plate 45, in expanded position, may grip the shaft by canting action. At one end of the plate 45 I have provided a loop portion '41 having an inwardly-bent portion 48 at its free end extending beneath one side of the plate 45. Asa means for securing the fastener member to the knob 40, I have provided an attaching portion 49 at the free end of the inwardly-bent portion 48. The attaching portion 49 has an outer flat surface adapted to engage the flat side 44 of the aperture 43 of the knob member, as most clearly shown in Figs. 21 and 22. On one edge of the attaching portion 49 I have provided teeth 50 (Figs. 21 and 23) adapted to engage material of the body of the knob portion adjacent the opening 43-for preventing removal of the attaching portion after it has been once moved into aflixed position. Integral with the opposite edge of the attaching portion 49 from that having the teeth I have provided a side portion 5| which is of bowed cross-section-(Fig. 22) so as to provide a bearing-like portion 52 adapted to embrace snugly, a portion of the pe- .ripheral surface of the shaft 3, as most clearly shown in Fig. 22. The bearing-like portion.52 provides additional support for the shaft member and aids in taking up any strain which the fastener member might undergo if the knob installation were used with apparatus such as an electric switchdevice in which it would be desirable to subject the knob to rotary pressure for turning the shaft.

In assembling my fourth form of fastener member with an article of manufacture such as the knob 40, I move the attaching portion 49 and the bearing 52 into the opening 43 of the knob with the outer flat surface of the attaching portion adjacent the flat side 44 of the opening.

,Then pressure is exerted upon the fastener member to force the attaching portion into the opening untilthe inwardly-bent portion 48 of ,the fastener member abuts the end face 5| of the knob, as shown in Fig. 21. During passage of the attaching portion into the opening, the teeth 50 tend to diginto material of the knob adjacent the opening and engage with the material in a way to prevent withdrawal of the attaching portion. When the fastener member is permanently aflixed with the knob member, as shown in Fig.

21, the plate portion 45 is in inclined relation to 'the end face 4| of the knob member and at the same time the aperture 45 of the plate '45 is disposed slightly out of alignment with the shaftreceiving opening defined by the inner surfaces of theattaching portion 49 and the bowed side. portion 5|. The shaft member 3 is now moved into the aperture 48 of the plate portion 45 with the flat side 5 .of the shaft opposite the flat side of the aperture 46. As the shaft 3 is moved through the aperture 46 into the opening of the sitlon the plate portion 45 expands whereby material of the plate portion adjacent the aperture 5| engages the shaft by a canting action to secure the shaft to the knob. The shaft may be easily and quickly released from the knob by passing a tool beneath the knob to press the ear 53 adjacent an end of the plate in the direction of the end face 4| thereby moving the aperture 46 into substantial alignment with the opening of the bearing 52 whereby the shaft may be readily detached. Thus by my invention I have provided fastener installations, each of which comprises, in my preferred form, a preformed knobmember of inexpensive construction and a simple fastener member capable of being quickly and easily secured-to the knob' member so as to provide an efficient means for detachably attaching a shaft to the knob. I

In the claims I'have referred to the knob I, 24 and 40 as an operating member. By that term I intend to include a member operated by a shaft as well as the member for operating the shaft. 4 Although I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereby because the scope of my invention is best defined by the following claims. a

1. In combinationwith a shaft and an operating member on one end thereof, of a fastener member for securing said member to said shaft, said fastener member having a plate-like apertured portion surrounding and normally gripping said shaft as when biased with respect to a transverse plane through said shaft, means integral said shaft as when'biased with respect to a transverse plane through said shaft, and an integral,

attaching portion connected to ,and disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to said shaft-gripe ping portion.

3. In combination with a shaft and an operate ing member on one end t ereof, of a fastener member for securingsaid member to said shaft,

tion of said plate, said attaching portion being said fastener member having a plate-like aperplate portion and disposed normally at an obtusetured'portion surrounding and normally gripping said shaft as when biased with respect to a transverse plane through said shaft, an integral attaching portion connected to and disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to said plate-like shaftgripping portion adapted to be embedded in said operating member adjacent said shaft, a part of said fastener connecting said shaft-gripping portion" and said attaching portion'bearing against said operating member.

4. A fastener installation comprising in combination, a shaft and operating member on one end thereof and a fastener member for removably securing said operating member to said shaft, said operating member being formed with a peripheral flange on one face thereof enclosing a fastener receiving-means and ashaft-receiving bore opening into said receiving means, said fastener being formed with a shaft-gripping por- -tion surrounding and normally gripping said shaft as when biased with'respect to a transverse plane through said shaft, an integral attaching portion embedded in said member, a part of the fastener connecting said shaft-gripping and attaching portions being angularly disposed with reference to the latter and bearing on said operating member, and means on said fastener extending into a recess in said peripheral flange operative to release the shaft-gripping portion of the fastener from gripping engagement with the shaft.

5. Afastener installation comprising in combination, a shaft and operating member on one end thereof and a fastener member for removably securing said operating member to said shaft, said operating member being formed with a peripheral flange on one face thereof enclosing a fastener receiving means and a shaft-re-.

ceiving bore opening into said. receiving means.

said fastener being formed with a shaft-gripping a gripping portion of the fastenermay be released from gripping engagement with the shaft. I

6. A fastener member for connectinga shaft with an apertured operating member and the like, comprising .an apertured spring plate portion adapted to surround and grip the shaft, an

attaching portion integral with one end of the plate portion and disposed normally at an obadapted to be embedded in the material of said operating member.

7. A fastener member for connecting a shaft with .an apertured operating member and the like, comprising an apertured spring plate portion adapted to surround and grip the shaft, an attaching portion integral with one end of the angle with" reference to the apertured portion of said plate, said attaching portion being adapted to be embedded in the material of said operating member, the end of said plate portion remote from the attaching portion being formed with an integral ear-like releasing projection- 8. A fastener member for connecting a shaft with an apertured operating member and the like, comprising an apertured spring plate portion adapted to surround and grip the shaft, an attaching prong integral with one end of the plate portion and angularly disposed with reference to the apertured portion of the plate and attaching prong integral with one end of the in said shaft, an angular extension on the upper end of said attaching prong in axial alignment with the .apertureof said shaft-gripping plate portion.

10. A fastener member forconnecting a shaft with an apertured operating member and the like comprising an apertured spring plate and an angularly disposed attaching prong integral with said plate and disposed in a plane passing through one edge of the plate aperture, and a reversely bent loop portion connecting the plate and attaching prong, the portion of the plate having said aperture being disposed at anobtuse angle relative to said attaching prong.

11. A fastener member for connecting a shaft with an apertured operating member and the like comprising an apertured spring plate and anangularly disposed attaching'prong integral with said plate and disposed in a'plane passing through one edge of the plate aperture, and a reversely bent loop portion connecting the plate and attaching prong, the portion of the plate havingsaid aperture being disposed at an' obtuse angle relative to said attaching prong, and a projection on the end of the plate opposite the loop portion for enabling said plate to be moved about said loop portion as a pivot.

' 12. A fastener member for connecting a shaft with an apertured operating member and the f like comprising an apertured spring plate and an angularly disposed attaching prong integral with said. plate and disposed in a plane passing through one edge of the plate aperture, and a reversely bent loop portion connecting the, plate and attaching prong, the portion of the plate having said aperture being .disposedat an obtuse angle relative to said attaching prong, and a projection on the end of the plate opposite the loop portion for'enabling said plate to be, moved about said loop portion as a pivot, and an angular extension on the upper end of the attaching prong in axial alignment with the aperture in -said spring plateportion.

rrowaan J. MURPHY. 

